In the case of a “natural gas event” do you know what to do? Does your community’s First Responders know what to do?
When a gas well was drilled in area, did the Natural Gas corporation provide you with information? When the compressor station or the natural gas dehydration station went on line were you given any instructions on what to do when things go wrong? When the pipeline crossed your property or your neighbor’s property, did anyone tell you what to do when an “event” occurs?
Is there an emergency plan on file at your local municipality office and available to you? Have your local schools, hospitals, nursing homes etc. been provided with emergency plans?
If you answered NO to one or more of these questions, perhaps you should be demanding a copy of a TACTICAL RESPONSE PLAN from each and every natural gas corporation operating in your area.
Yes, folks, it is no longer an EMERGENCY PLAN, that term sounds too scary. It is now a TACTICAL RESPONSE PLAN, presumably a less scary and more assuring term. However, the image of a TACTICAL RESPONSE to me involves tanks, armored vehicles and SWAT Squads storming the neighborhood.
Call it what you will, such a plan should be in place and available to everyone living near and around any natural gas well, pipelines and facilities. There should also be public informational sessions and public service announcements on a regular basis to ensure YOU know what to do when a natural gas event occurs. We regularly received similar emergency information when a large snow storm or hurricane or flood or other natural disaster is heading our way, shouldn’t we also be prepared for one involving natural gas?
You may want to take a look at the “Thomas Parkinson BRK (Bethany College) Tactical Response Plan by Chesapeake Energy”. (Bethany College is a private, liberal arts college located in Bethany, West Virginia, United States.) I suggest you download the file, and use the View/rotate for easier reading.
I know the talking point will be that such accidents rarely happen – however they do happen, and sometimes with deadly consequences. Shouldn’t you be prepared……just in case? 
©2013 by Dory Hippauf
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I think everyone should get a copy of the tactical response plan for the gas well near you~ Only then will you see how totally unprepared the frackers are to address any spills or accidents.
When fools rush in… … … planning and forethought take a back seat. I’m seeing that in Wisconsin’s mining rush.